Serviceable pop-up bollard

ABSTRACT

The system includes a bollard, a primary casing that houses the bollard, and a portion of the actuating system used to initiate the selective deployment of the bollard. The serviceable elements of the actuating system deployed within the casing are limited to a pneumatically operated cylinder and piston, and when applicable, position sensors attached to the cylinder. The present invention solves the problem of accessing the serviceable elements of the system by mechanically linking the cylinder and piston to a removable access section that closes an access opening in the bollard. When the removable access section is removed and pulled away from the bollard, the piston and cylinder, which may include the position sensors, are drawn out of the casing through the access opening for servicing. Any hoses attached to the cylinder will also be at least partially drawn through the access opening.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bollards and, in particular, itconcerns serviceable pop-up bollard.

Pop-up bollards, also known as retractable or automatic bollards, ofvarious configurations are know in the art, however, gaining access tothe serviceable elements of such bollards has presented somedifficulties. The least satisfactory solution has been to completelyunearth the entire bollard mechanism and housing.

One solution is suggested by the SUMO raising bollard offered by CaleBriparc on its Website. More specifically on Webpagewww.cale.se/briparc/products/bollards/index_bollards.shtm. This bollardapparatus provides access to the serviceable elements deployed inside byfully removing the entire bollard element. This solution may beappropriate for smaller bollards having weights that may be manuallylifted by service personnel. However, once such weight limits areexceeded and lifting equipment must be employed, the advantage of thesystem is lessened.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,563 discloses another suggested solution. Thebollard of this patent provides access to serviceable elements throughtwo separate openings. Serviceable elements deployed inside of thebollard itself are accessible by removing the top of the bollard.Serviceable elements deployed in the housing that holds the bollard areaccessible by first removing the bollard from the housing, and thenremoving a bezel that surrounds the bollard opening. Here too, theadvantage is limited to bollards no larger or heavier than can bemanually lifted by service personnel.

Especially within the class of bollard design for anti-terroristprotection, the limitations of the above referenced bollards of priorart off set the suggested advantages.

There is therefore a need for serviceable pop-up bollard apparatus thatprovides access to the serviceable element of the apparatus withoutremove of the bollard element. It would be of benefit if the bollardapparatus were to provide removal of serviceable elements through anaccess opening provided in the top region of the bollard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is serviceable pop-up bollard.

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, asystem for selectively deploying a bollard so as to restricting passageon a surface, the system comprising: a) a bollard housed within a systemvolume, said bollard selectively deployable between a raised positionand a lowered position, said bollard being substantially hollow andincluding a removable access section that closes an access opening; andb) an actuating system having at least one serviceable element deployedwithin said system volume, said actuating system mechanically linked tosaid bollard and configured for selectively deploying said bollard;wherein removal of said removable access section provides access to aninterior volume of said bollard and said system volume and at least aportion of said at least one serviceable element is removable from saidsystem volume through said access opening.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, there is alsoprovided a stationary support base substantially permanently mountedwithin said system volume, said stationary support base configured tosupport at least a portion of said actuating system.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, said systemvolume is defined by a primary casing implanted below the surface andsaid support base is integral to said primary casing.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, there is alsoprovided a secondary casing implanted below the surface of vehicularmovement such that said primary casing is deployed in said secondarycasing.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, support ofsaid actuating system on said support base includes each of said supportbase and said actuating system being configured with correspondingsupport regions.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, saidcorresponding support regions include said support base being configuredwith at least one cut-out area and said actuating system beingconfigured with a corresponding extension region configure to extend atleast partially into said cut-out area.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, said removableaccess section is in a top region of said bollard.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, said removableaccess section has a circular outer contour.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, a perimeter ofsaid access opening and a perimeter of said removable access section areconfigured with corresponding threads such that said removable accesssection is screwably removable from said bollard.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, said topregion is planar and said removable access section is co-planar withsaid top region when said access section is deployed in a fully closedstate.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, said actuatingsystem is mechanically linked to said removable access section.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, said actuatingsystem is pneumatically operated and said at least one serviceableelement includes a pneumatic piston and cylinder combination.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, at least aportion of said pneumatic piston and cylinder combination extends intosaid interior volume of said bollard, and an end of said pneumaticpiston and cylinder combination is mechanically linked to said removableaccess section, such that said pneumatic piston and cylinder combinationis removed through said access opening as said removable access sectionis removed from said access opening.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, said enclosedsystem volume is configured with a separation partition defining atleast a first region housing said bollard and a second region housingcables and hoses associated with said actuating system, said separationpartition configured to allow substantially unrestricted movement ofsaid cables and hoses as require for deployment of said bollard.

There is also provided according to the teachings of the presentinvention, a method for servicing a system for selectively restrictingpassage on a surface, the method comprising: a) providing a system forselectively restricting passage on the surface, said system including:i) a selectively deployable bollard at least partially deployed within asystem volume, said bollard including a removable access section thatcloses an access opening, said access opening providing access to saidsystem volume, and ii) an actuating system including at least oneserviceable element releasably mounted within said system volume, saidactuating system mechanically linked to said bollard and configured forselectively deploying said bollard; b) removing said removable accesssection; c) accessing said system volume; and d) removing at least aportion of said one serviceable element from said system volume throughsaid access opening.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, there is alsoprovided providing a primary casing that defines said system volume,said primary casing implanted below the surface and including a supportbase configured to support at least a portion of said actuating system.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, there is alsoprovided providing a secondary casing implanted below the surface anddeploying said primary casing in said secondary casing.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, there is alsoprovided supporting said actuating system on said support base with eachof said support base and said actuating system being configured withcorresponding support regions such that said support base is configuredwith at least one cut-out region and said actuating system is configuredwith a corresponding extension region configure to extend at leastpartially into said cut-out region.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, said removableaccess section is implemented in a top region of said bollard.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, said removableaccess section and said removable access opening are each implementedwith a circular contour and a perimeter of said access opening and aperimeter of said removable access section are implemented withcorresponding threads such that said removable access section isscrewably removable from said bollard.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, there is alsoprovided mechanically linking said actuating system to said removableaccess section.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, said actuatingsystem implemented so as to be pneumatically operated and includes apneumatic piston and cylinder combination, and an end of said pneumaticpiston and cylinder combination is mechanically linked to said removableaccess section, such that said pneumatic piston and cylinder combinationis removed through said access opening as said removable access sectionis removed from said access opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front cross-sectional view of a preferred embodimentconstructed and operative according to the teachings of the presentinvention, shown in a raised position;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail of area A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a removable access section constructed andoperative according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an isometric cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1,shown in a lowered position with the removable access section removedand a portion of the piston extending through the access opening;

FIG. 6 is a schematic isometric transparent view of a primary casingconstructed and operative according to the teachings of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is an isometric detail of an extension region configured on thebottom of the pneumatic cylinder;

FIG. 8 is a top elevation of stationary support base constructed andoperative according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a secondary casing constructed andoperative according to the teachings of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1,including a cylinder support element constructed and operative accordingto the teachings of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is serviceable pop-up bollard

The principles and operation of serviceable pop-up bollard according tothe present invention may be better understood with reference to thedrawings and the accompanying description.

By way of introduction, the system of the present invention provides apop-up bollard that may be used for selectively restricting passage on asurface of vehicular movement such as, but not limited to, roadways,streets, driveways, and parking lots and garages. It should be notedthat configuration of the bollard for restricting pedestrian traffic isalso within the scope of the present invention. The bollard isselectively deployable between a raised position, in which passage on asurface of vehicular movement is restricted, and a lowered position, inwhich passage on a surface of vehicular movement is unrestricted.

In the preferred embodiment described herein, the system of the presentinvention includes the substantially hollow bollard, a primary casingthat houses the bollard, and a portion of the actuating system used toselectively deploy the bollard. The casing is deployed below groundlevel and is preferably cemented into place, thereby providing a securebase for the bollard should a vehicle attempt to break through thebarrier provided by the bollard. It will be appreciated that unless theentire system is unearthed, access to the actuating system is limited tothe top surface provided by the casing and the bollard. Therefore, inthe preferred embodiment described herein, the present invention haslimited the serviceable elements of the actuating system that aredeployed within the casing to a pneumatically operated cylinder andpiston, and when applicable, position sensors attached to the cylinder.The source of pressurized air, preferably an air compressor andcontrol/activating system that includes the necessary switched andvalves, is remotely located preferably above ground for easy access andconnected to the cylinder by hoses, which are preferably routed througha buried conduit. In such a configuration, substantially any number ofbollards may be operated using a single air source. It will beunderstood that substantially any source of pressurized gas may be usedto actuate the movement of the piston. A preferred source is an aircompressor with an electric motor, however, other sources such as, butnot limited to, air compressors with gasoline or diesel motors, andtanks of pressurized air or other appropriate gas, are within the scopeof the present invention. It will be appreciated that numerouscontrol/activating systems are known in the art, and the use ofsubstantially any such system is within the scope of the presentinvention.

The present invention solves the problem of accessing the serviceableelements of the system by mechanically linking the cylinder and pistonto a removable access section that closes an access opening in thebollard. When the removable access section is removed and pulled awayfrom the bollard, the piston and cylinder, which may include positionsensors, are drawn out of the casing through the access opening forservicing. Any hoses attached to the cylinder will also be at leastpartially drawn through the access opening. If the hoses required repairor replacement, the end may be detached, for example, from thepressurized air source and drawn completely out through the accessopening. New or repaired hoses can than be fed back through the buriedconduit and then reconnected to the pressurized air source.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the pop-upbollard system of the present invention, generally referred to in thedrawings by reference numeral 2, in a raised position. The bollard 4 ishoused in a first region 50 of the primary casing 6, and selectivedeployment of the bollard 4 is activated by the pneumatic piston 8 andcylinder 10. The primary casing 6 also includes a second region 52 thathouses any hoses, wires and cables deployed within the primary casing 6.It will be understood that the primary casing 6 may be implementedwithout the second region 52, however, the second region 52 providesprotection for the hoses not afforded by devices of prior art.

The top surface of the bollard 4 illustrated herein is planar andincludes an access opening 32 that is closed by a removable accesssection 30 that is co-planar with the top surface of the bollard 4 whenthe access section 30 is deployed in a fully closed state as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

Preferably, the removable access section 30 has a circular contour and,as seen in FIG. 4, is threaded about a perimeter surface 34 so as to bescrewably attached to the bollard 4 by corresponding threads configuredin the perimeter of the access opening 32. It will be appreciated,however, that the removable access section and the access opening may beconfigured with substantially any suitable contour and attachment of theremovable access section may be by substantially any suitable attachmentdevice.

The top end of the piston 8 is attached to the removable access section30 preferably by a joint element 72 that allows rotation of theremovable access section 30 in relation to the piston 8 about two axesof rotation. The joint element 72, see FIG. 3, includes two jointsections. The lower joint section 76 allows rotation about thecenterline 76 a of the piston 8. This allows for unscrewing of theremovable access section 30 from the bollard. The upper joint section 74allows rotation about an axis of rotation 74 a that is perpendicular tothe centerline of the piston. This allows the removable access section30 to be rotated to one side if a technician desires access to theinterior of the bollard through the access opening 32. It will beappreciated that deployment of the cylinder 10 and piston 8 may bereversed such that the cylinder 10 is attached to the removable accesssection 30.

FIG. 6 shows the primary casing 6 without the bollard and actuatingsystem in order to illustrate a preferred implementation of the supportbase 80 that is configured in the bottom of the primary casing 6. Alsoillustrated in FIG. 6 is partition 54 that separates sections 50 and 52on the primary casing 6. Partition 54 is configured with an opening 56that provides a passageway for any hoses and wires that are generallyhoused in section 52 and extend into section 50 and are connected to thecylinder 10 or piston 8. It should be noted that opening 56 may beimplemented in substantially any suitable configuration and location inpartition 54.

Both the support base and the actuating system are configured withcorresponding support regions. FIGS. 7 and 8, illustrate a preferredimplementation in which the bottom surface 10 b of the cylinder 10includes an extension region 12, and the support base includes acorresponding cut-out area 82 such that the extension region 12 extendsat least partially into the cut-out area 82. It will be understood thatthe circular contours of the extension region 12 and cut-out area 82 areused only as examples and that substantially any contour or othersuitable non-fixed-attachment support structure may be implementedwithin the scope of the present invention.

Therefore, in this preferred embodiment of the present invention, thecylinder 10 and piston 8 of the actuating system are fixedly attachedonly to the bollard 4, by way of the removable access section 30, andonly rest on the support base 80. Configured thusly, removal of thecylinder and piston for servicing, as illustrated in FIG. 5, may beaccomplished by unscrewing the removable access section 30 and liftingit up out of the access opening 32, bringing with it the cylinder 10 andpiston 8.

Deployment of the bollard system of the present invention may beaccomplished by burying the primary casing 6 such that the top surfaceis co-planar to the surrounding surface. In some applications it may bepreferable to bury a secondary casing, 90 in FIG. 9, and then deploy theprimary casing 6 within the secondary casing 90.

With regard to the operation of the bollard 4, upward travel duringselective deployment is limited by contact between the flanges 40 on thebollard 4 and plate 42, which may be configured as the cover of theprimary casing 6. Downward travel is limited by contact of the bottom 44of the bollard 4 with the support base 80. In some applications, it maybe desirable to incorporate electronic position sensors 48 into thecylinder, thereby providing bollard position information to a centralsystem processing-unit which may also control the activating system.

For some applications of the present invention, it may be advantageousto provide extra support for the cylinder 10. In such cases, a cylindersupport element 96 as illustrated in FIG. 10 may be used to furtherstabilize the cylinder 10. When used, the cylinder support element 96 isfixedly attached to the support base 80, and releasably attached to thetop of the cylinder 10 using bolts for example; however, substantiallyany releasable attachment arrangement may be utilized and is within thescope of the present invention. In order to remove the cylinder 10 andpiston 8 for servicing, the removable access section 30 is unscrewed forthe bollard 4 and rotated to the side about axis of rotation 74 a so asto allow access through the access opening 32. The cylinder 10 isreleased from the cylinder support element 96. The cylinder 10 andpiston 8 are then removed through the access opening 32.

It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only toserve as examples and that many other embodiments are possible withinthe spirit and the scope of the present invention.

1. A system for selectively deploying a bollard so as to restrictingpassage on a surface, the system comprising: a) a bollard housed withina system volume, said bollard selectively deployable between a raisedposition and a lowered position, said bollard being substantially hollowand including a removable access section that closes an access opening;and b) an actuating system having at least one serviceable elementdeployed within said system volume, said actuating system mechanicallylinked to said bollard and configured for selectively deploying saidbollard; wherein removal of said removable access section providesaccess to said system volume and at least a portion of said actuatingsystem is removable from said system volume through said access opening.2. The system of claim 1, further including a stationary support basesubstantially permanently mounted within said system volume, saidstationary support base configured to support at least a portion of saidactuating system.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein said system volumeis defined by a primary casing implanted below the surface and saidsupport base is integral to said primary casing.
 4. The system of claim3, further including a secondary casing implanted below the surface ofvehicular movement such that said primary casing is deployed in saidsecondary casing.
 5. The system of claim 2, wherein support of saidactuating system on said support base includes each of said support baseand said actuating system being configured with corresponding supportregions.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said corresponding supportregions include said support base being configured with at least onecut-out area and said actuating system being configured with acorresponding extension region configured to extend at least partiallyinto said cut-out area.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said removableaccess section is in a top region of said bollard.
 8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein said removable access section has a circular outercontour.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein a perimeter of said accessopening and a perimeter of said removable access section are configuredwith corresponding threads such that said removable access section isscrewably removable from said bollard.
 10. The system of claim 9,wherein said top region is planar and said removable access section isco-planar with said top region when said access section is deployed in afully closed state.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein said actuatingsystem is mechanically linked to said removable access section.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein said actuating system is pneumaticallyoperated and said at least one serviceable element includes a pneumaticpiston and cylinder combination.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein atleast a portion of said pneumatic piston and cylinder combinationextends into said interior volume of said bollard, and an end of saidpneumatic piston and cylinder combination is mechanically linked to saidremovable access section, such that said pneumatic piston and cylindercombination is removed through said access opening as said removableaccess section is removed from said access opening.
 14. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said enclosed system volume is configured with aseparation partition defining at least a first region housing saidbollard and a second region housing cables and hoses associated withsaid actuating system, said separation partition configured to allowsubstantially unrestricted movement of said cables and hoses as requirefor deployment of said bollard.
 15. A method for servicing a system forselectively restricting passage on a surface, the method comprising: a)providing a system for selectively restricting passage on the surface,said system including: i) a selectively deployable bollard at leastpartially deployed within a system volume, said bollard including aremovable access section that closes an access opening, said accessopening providing access to said system volume, and ii) an actuatingsystem including at least one serviceable element releasably mountedwithin said system volume, said actuating system mechanically linked tosaid bollard and configured for selectively deploying said bollard; b)removing said removable access section; c) accessing said system volume;and d) removing at least a portion of said actuating system from saidsystem volume through said access opening.
 16. The method of claim 15,further including providing a primary casing that defines said systemvolume, said primary casing implanted below the surface and including asupport base configured to support at least a portion of said actuatingsystem.
 17. The method of claim 16, further including providing asecondary casing implanted below the surface and deploying said primarycasing in said secondary casing.
 18. The method of claim 17, furtherincluding supporting said actuating system on said support base witheach of said support base and said actuating system being configuredwith corresponding support regions such that said support base isconfigured with at least one cut-out region and said actuating system isconfigured with a corresponding extension region configure to extend atleast partially into said cut-out region.
 19. The method of claim 18,wherein said removable access section is implemented in a top region ofsaid bollard.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said removable accesssection and said removable access opening are each implemented with acircular contour and a perimeter of said access opening and a perimeterof said removable access section are implemented with correspondingthreads such that said removable access section is screwably removablefrom said bollard.
 21. The method of claim 15, further includingmechanically linking said actuating system to said removable accesssection.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said actuating systemimplemented so as to be pneumatically operated and includes a pneumaticpiston and cylinder combination, and an end of said pneumatic piston andcylinder combination is mechanically linked to said removable accesssection, such that said pneumatic piston and cylinder combination isremoved through said access opening as said removable access section isremoved from said access opening.